Charlotte County pantry feeds 2,000 weekly

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — A local food pantry that began as a small church outreach is now serving hundreds of families each week, highlighting the growing need for food assistance across Charlotte County.

On Thursday Nurturing the Neighborhood on Wintergarden provided food to more than 530 households, helping over 2,000 people. Many of them are seniors and families struggling to keep up with rising grocery prices.

The pantry works in partnership with the Harry Chapin Food Bank, along with donations from local grocery stores and support from dozens of volunteers who keep the operation running throughout the week.

“This started as our church’s mission to feed anyone who needed to be fed,” said Kimberly Laurence, director of Nurturing the Neighborhood. “As the need grew, we realized we had to grow too.”

What once served a few dozen families has evolved into a large, drive-through food distribution that now feeds hundreds of households every Thursday. Organizers say rising food prices, fixed incomes and ongoing financial strain following recent hurricanes are driving more people to seek help.

For Beth, a Charlotte County neighbor who visits the pantry regularly, the food assistance makes a real difference.

“It helps out a lot, because I’m on Social Security like a lot of other people,” Beth said. “So it does help out a great deal.”

Another neighbor, Bob, says the pantry has become an important resource as everyday costs continue to climb.

“Food prices are so high, so it helps come in here,” Bob said. “It’s good for people who are really low income. They need the food.”

Behind the scenes, volunteers work several days a week, picking up donations, sorting food, and building boxes to ensure families don’t leave empty handed.

“You see all walks of life,” said Ruthie Blecharczyk, a longtime volunteer. “You have to remember to look at everyone like they’re a million-dollar person. You never look down on anybody.”

Volunteer Colleen Herzic, who has helped with the pantry for years, says the relationships built here are just as important as the food.

“It means the world,” Herzic said. “You’re a listening ear. Sometimes just hearing ‘I love you’ can make a difference for someone who hasn’t heard that in a long time.”

As demand has grown, the organization transitioned from a church-run pantry into its own nonprofit, allowing it to expand operations and seek additional support to keep up with the need.

To help sustain its work, Nurturing the Neighborhood on Wintergarden is hosting a 5K run on February 14, with proceeds going toward food distribution and community programs. Organizers say the event is one way to support the pantry as it continues to serve hundreds of families each week.

Despite the scale of the operation, volunteers say the mission remains simple: treat every person with dignity while making sure no one goes hungry.

Food distributions continue every Thursday, as organizers say the need for assistance remains high across the community.